Mr. USA Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Armand Tanny

Posted on Thursday, December 6th, 2018 by John Wood

The great bodybuilder Armand Tanny as he looked when in top form. Like many strength athletes of the time, he got his start in Olympic lifting and fared pretty well before making the switch to bodybuilding. One of his favorite lifts was the one arm clean, which he could perform with over 300 pounds — an impressive feat. The Rochester, New York native won the Pro-Mr. America bodybuilding title in 1950 and the Mr. USA title in 1950. His brother was the Vic Tanny of Vic Tanny’s Gym fame.

Strength and Health, July 1947: Clancy Ross Cover

Posted on Monday, February 10th, 2014 by John Wood

The great Clancy Ross graces the cover of the July, 1947 issue of Strength and Health (Ross was the S&H photo contest winner that month). A short time later, Ross would go on to beat Steve Reeves in the 1948 Mr. USA contest.

Also found in this issue: “Secrets of Strength (part III) by Bob Hoffman, “The Super-Duper Body Building Program by Gord Venables, “Barbelles” by Pudgy Stockton, “If you Want Big Muscles and Greater Strength,” also by Hoffman, and a feature on the Screwball Gym, by Harv Easton.

Clancy Ross

Posted on Wednesday, September 26th, 2012 by John Wood

Clarence “Clancy” Ross, from Oakland, California, started weight training at 17 years of age (weighing all of 135 pounds) and built himself up into one of the greatest bodybuilders who ever lived. Ross won the 1945 AAU Mr. America title (plus the “Most Muscular” award.) He took the Pro Mr. America title the next year and Mr. USA the year after that.

Rather than focus on “pumping” exercises which was often the suggested method at the time, Ross was not afraid to lift heavy on the basic multi-joint movements such as bent-over rows, squats, deadlifts etc — and it showed. Ross appeared on the cover of over forty different bodybuilding magazines over his career.